In a Nutshell

How many of us can really free ourselves from self-centeredness? Like it or not, our family members, relatives and people who are closed to us in daily life are 'our small world view' - we like to live in our small space in a rounded well.  The Malay language has an interesting proverb: Katak di bawah Tempurung (a frog living under a nutshell - coconut shell?).  Sometimes i wonder who are we to give unfavorable comments to world's renowned peace price winners - if one really care to research on their lives, their lives are full of preseverence to universal humane principles and self-sacrifies of personal comfort - these factors in a way made them rise beyond the hay stacks...
Today i read the news that feature the conference of some of the world's humanitarians in Newark, USA. Personally, i am touched by one of the quotes cited in the news was this visionary phrase given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, for  reflection:
"The world belongs to over 6 billion human beings, not governments or religious leaders," he said. "The world belongs to people."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-city-plays-host-dalai-lama-3-day-185349000.html
Another news about The Holiness visit to Arkansas, USA:
"The enemy is your best teacher," said the Dalai Lama,..."
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/3395/in-arkansas-dalai-lama-draws-crowds-as-big-as-a-sports-event
As a buddhist, we believed it takes great merits to meet a spiritual teacher, even boundless merits to meet The Holiness.

Happy Vesākha Day (Happy Wesak Day) to all Buddhists world-wide - It is a special day we reflect on how the prince Siddhartha had given up his comfortable nutshell, went forward with full determination to search for the truth of human sufferings, Enlightened and became the Buddha, with Great Compassion, turning the wheel of the Dharma for 45 years with Perfect Wisdom, countless skillful means to different personalities - that leads to the formation of the Sangha, and the lay communities till today, more than 2,500 years (2555 B.C.) and flowing on......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ves%C4%81kha

Happy Vesakha to you
May the Buddha be our Teacher
May the Dharma be our Light
May the Sangha be our Guide
towards the Path to Enlightenment!

Tashi Delek
sonam yeshi

Generosity

The Buddha's Teachings on Generosity (Dana) is very intersting, guided by the teaching of Right Thought in the Noble Eightfold Path:

to refresh my little memory of intellectual learning on generosity, generally it has three categories:
a) Giving of Materials （财布施） - money, the four basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, transport);
b) Giving of Dharma （法布施）  - education, teachings, time & energy to support dharma activities;
c) Giving of Life （无畏布施） - gives one's own life for the sake of others without discrimination  - Perfection of Giving.
the following webpage hypertext link has a very interesting interview on generosity:
http://www.purifymind.com/Generosity.htm

The latest project for Buddhist friends to accummulate blessings & merits :)-D)
- the restoration of the main Guru Rinpoche statue, 8 smaller Guru Rinpoche images and images of the Dharma Protectors in the retreat centre at Dzogchen Monastery, India. The auscpicious Vesakha Day is coming, even a little effort of giving with Right Thought or Right Intention, it is a meritorous practice we shall aspire to cherish in our cultivation.

May the Bodhisattva Vajrasattva purifies our obscuration, May the project be sucessfully assisted by the lay community in this rare opportunity to practise generosity!
Even if one cannot afford to give in material term, may one practise the recitations of Vajrasattva Mantra, Vajrasattva 100 Syllables Mantra, may one meditate, or visualized the beautiful image of Vajrasattva to purify one's obscurations, and enabling the path with the conducive conditions for continuous spiritual cultivation until attaining Enlightenment.

[a  special gift from H.E. the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche to Khenpo Kunga Rinpoche in 2009.  Image photographed by sonam yeshi, All right reserved]

Mantra

OM VAJRASATTVA HUM - Sanskrit

OM BENZA SATTVA HUM - Tibetan
Vajrasattva 100 Syllables Mantra (Tibetan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z43G_Eoke1A&feature=related
Thank you to YouTube and the uploader

Tashi Delek

sonam yeshi, 8 May 2011

Buddhist Prayers - Medicine Buddha Chant

Late last month, my youngest sister admitted to hospital for an operation.  I called her the day after her operation, her energy was so low that i began to worry. I telephoned both Khenpo and Tulku to request for blessings chant for her.  Then i mailed her 3 CDs of Buddhist Chants : Guru Rinpoche Chant, Vajrasattva 100 Syllabes and Medicine Buddha Chant. More than a week later, i telephoned Tulku and he asked if she was recovered? Immediately i called her at KK, and she sounded healthy and asked to express 'Thank You' to both  Rinpoches. During the week knowing of her health conditions, i found practising the Chenrezig Sadhanna Chant and transferring of merits to sentient beings helped me from mental worries over her health state.

Then later almost for nearly past a week, my body experienced stiffness and rashes - skin sensitive reaction 'resides' on my 2 arm's joint (a sign that many termed due to 'stress' conventionally?) .  After the 3rd day, i went to a pharmacist instead go to the panel clinic. The pharmacist advised to take 'Zyrtec' once a day.  The first day i took it, the conditions of the rashes seemed improved.  Happily i went to inform her it worked.  The following 2 days, the rashes came back and became more serious. Thus i stopped taking the medication. Reflecting if it is the body was protesting - a sign it needs rest? Further,  i reflected: we conceptually said that 'this is my body' , 'this body is 'mine', but why 'i' have no control over the body? - it suffers from sickness, old age and finally death! - our bodies are experiencng the First Noble Truth - The Noble Truth of Suffering, expounded by the Sakyamuni Buddha more than 2,500 year ago! Like a doctor, the Buddha's teachings are reminding me: you are sick, there is cause of this suffering, the cessation of it, and the path leading to the cessation of suffering! 
Then i recalled the story a friend's son at the KK Dzogchen center,  suffering from skin problem since young and no medication seemed to work for him for years.  Then a good friend recommended her mother to bring this son to join one of the Chenrezig Saddhana Puja at the KK Dzogchen Center -at that time the center was in the old house premises.  After the puja, later his skin problem disappeared in a miraculous way - no medication.  He then requested a copy of the puja book to recite at his home.  After months, his skin problem has never re-appear until today - thus they become our friends.
Thus i did my Buddhist Prayers: Buddhist Puja & Buddhist Mantras. Feeling that these mental medicine may help my body to recover naturally. Recalling Visakha Day is coming, thus after the Chenrezig Saddhana Chant, I did the Sakyamuni Mantra, followed by the Medicine Buddha Chant.  Later  i felt i should finish reading the last volume (volume III) of the manuscript of Konde Rinpoche. The texts described the 'Bardo" states - to a reader such ignorant like me, it is very 'deep' teaching of Vajrayanna, specifically the Dzogchen practice.  -But i felt that this manuscript needs to be publish as soon as possible - though it has been a long journey Rinpoche commissioned its translation to English in India.  As i contemplated on his compassion to share this deep aspect of Buddhist teachings, my tears welled my heart.......
Later in the afternoon, i felt extremely tired.  i went to sleep, and when i woke up, i found four hours more had passed.  I examined my then 'rashed' arms - and found the rashes had disappered, at least the itchness subsided [need another day or two to check if its recurrence?!]  My heart was inspired - i went to my shrine which has a small image of Medicine Buddha on it (a gift from Konde Rinpoche), i chanted the Medicine Buddha Chant for 108 times:
'TEYATHA OM BEGANZE BEGANZE MAHA BEGANZE RADZA SAMUNGHATE SOHA"

By this practise, May the merits be shared with all sentient beings.
但愿众生得离苦，愿之众生得安乐,
但愿众生得离苦，愿之众生往生佛净土

Buddhist Mantras

Knowledge is power, ignorance is bliss?
with spiritual mental development, may our mind be wise, may our heart be filled with loving kindness & compassionate, May our speech be like the nectar, May our body be calm abiding.

OM AH RA BA TSA NA DHI (Om Ara Pa Ca Na Dhe)
Manjushri Mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw8NTMRgDso&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGEVNlVWyBI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMWNmYtPnFA&feature=related


OM MANI PADME HUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPszteX0z7k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YEq3St7CGs&feature=related

Prajna-paramita Sutra (Heart Sutra)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9-XaA2f00

Happy belated birthday to all born on the day of 5th in the month of MAY - May all aspire for Enlightenment, and May all aspire to help all sentient beings!
Tashi Delek
吉祥如意

sonam yeshi - May 6, 2011, 2044 hrs

Cultural meanings of sickness

These past 3 weeks, i have been experiencing severed stiffness on my left arm - unable to bend to my back, including difficulty to put on clothing myself. I was delaying if i needed to see a doctor - i thought if i see a GP, from past experiences,one of the medication i might be prescribed is 'pain killer'. Thus i decided not to do that but practising prostration instead - reflecting on the motivating real-life story of Kunde Rinpoche's grandpa - who was once very sicked and illed -  he vomitted seriously. Instead of visiting hospital, he practised 100 prostrations daily as his medicine, and he recovered from this sickness after months - without medication! - it is indeed sounded like 'miracle' - amazingly meaningful example to view / perceived (?) human sickness in Vajrayana Buddhist practice towards a different light!
This story motivates me to continue practising full prostration in the evening after work at home - i chose the only corner space available at this little apartment - a little space which is reserved to place my sentimental value 'old' piano - which i have been delaying to 'retrieve' from the refurbishing warehouse since February month this year.
I could only do three sets of the full prostrations initially, feeling very painful the whole physical body. Slowly i managed to increase to 7 sets. In less than a week, the condition of the left arm has improved much, at lease i could bent over my left hand back to my waist area.  Physical pain can be like spiritual friend motivates one to spend time listening to the body's needs, even lifestyle changed!
This physical pain thus becoming my motivation to continue my prostration practice more consistently for now. I have long way to reach 10 thousand times with Taking Refuge Chant ( 归依) and Arousing of Boddhicitta Chant (发心) which prostrating - a continuation of last year's less than a thousand time bowing and chanting these verses taught by my spiritual friends .......
Oh, My Buddha, May i be determined.......
May 1, 2011 at 0221hrs, sonam yeshi

Body, Speech & Mind

Many years ago when i first started learning the essence of the Dharma Teachings, the profound teachings of Karma relates to our Three Doors: Body, Speech & Mind.  It was said that the right speech is the most difficult to observe precept in our daily life (for lay people, i think).
Personally, i like the summary chart of the Noble Eightfold Path presented at this website (view 23 April 2011):
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html

In daily life, from family, workplace to religious organizations (not to mention the political scene squabbles), it is easily testify the cause of most human misunderstandings, unhappiness, even quarrels and fights because of human words/speech, including human communication problem/barriers (cultural meaning of language, percepetions etc) !

With the blessings of the Guru &The Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma & Sangha), my prayer wish while visiting some beautiful, ancient monasteries in the holy lands: May the Sangha spirit be the light of all Buddhist organizations!

In retrospection, when Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche was invited to use my late parents'old house in March 2009, during the first few months, many times my little wisdom was distracted, disheartened, even stressed by human words, especially from the fence sitters - while spending time, energy and finance in organizating some initial activities for people to learn Buddhist practices. Khenpo compassionately guided me with this simple phrase: 管自己没有烦恼，管别人可带来烦恼 [self-management no problem, other-people management may give problem]... this practical reminder has thus constantly guided me in many ways in lay life. 
Ironically, one time (or more?), i was so stressed that even almost like 'told off someone who talked like non-stop, commenting on those who contributed much, but no action of helping! Under such circumstances, instead i was inviting remarks such as: you did not practise well (你没有修到!).  It made me realized that our little remarks may be the result of blowned negative energy of others. Then I confessed to Khenpo for my lost of temper, he compassionately compared someone practising in a cave alone and contributes to dharma activities to benefits others as more challenging in practise. At that time, i felt that compassion is very difficult to practise ( 慈悲心很难修)!
I thanked all my teachers, the presence of Rinpoches' and their compassionate guidance-  through their actions of showing tolerance, patience and forgiveness to people who do not treated them in the right manners in many situations. I reminded myself it was my own motivation that sailing me through, when i asked myself: why am i doing all these? If it is for my own "accummulations of good karma or clearing my past karma", hi and bye style is simpler, just joined any dharma activities organized ready, go there, chants together, do little donation or participated in activities, folded palms to the Reverand Ones, or get blessings, give little 'red packet' (token), said thank you and go home - happy and no problem.
Last night before going to the dream land, i read this beautiful dharma teaching: 依法不依人[let dharma be your guide, not personal behavior]
- it is a quintessence teaching for constant reminder for all lay practitioners in learning the Dharma, sometimes we may forget being caught in the samsaric world of the eight winds (八风). 
Below is a beutiful phrase from 'WORD OF WISDOM' by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, given to us (Maitrikara group at Norman, USA in 1995) by Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche:

Do not forget the Lama,

Pray to him at all times.

Do not be carried away by thoughts,

Watch the nature of mind.

Do not forget death,

Persist in Dharma.

Do not forget sentient beings,

With compassion dedicate your merit to them.

Thus have i read...

The Mara? & The Buddha!

[Picture photographed by Sonam Yeshi on 10 April 2011 - a beutiful ring of light captured!]

A friend travelled about 200KM with her 2 daughters to join us for our Naga Vase Puja, Released Life & Smoke Puja on 10April 2011. They missed the exit in the N-S highway and spent double the time to reach us. Luckily they managed to arrived before we started to proceed to the destination with the Naga Vases.

Later in the afternoon, all friends had left , we cleaned the floor of the centre together. Then she narrated to me this moving episode of her experiences with Konde Rinpoche - sometime while this late friend, Sonam Dzogchen (the name given by Konde Rinpoche after he had taken Refuge to the Guru, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha before his diceased) was admitted to a local hospital - The wife of this sicked friend was wearing the robe of a renounced nun, visiting him at that time with one of their daughters. The wife pointed with her index finger from top to bottom towards our teacher, something like asking that he was a monk?, followed by her daughter putting a 50 (RM) dollar note inside one of his arms stated it was for his blessing chant he did to his illing father etc. 

The friend mentioned that she respected this Rinpoche, who was standing humbly, with his head looking down and forward,just noded, no sign of any negative emotion. Like a child, he gave back the money to this 'surprised' friend instead, and said he did not need it! She remarked: i wish i have one percent of his patience and compassion...Once again, i was moved to tears hearing another real-life experience of my humane teacher's patience and tolerance...
Sometimes out of concerned for his child-like, no concept style had been like '"trapped" by people that i know, i confessed that i felt myself also like a Mara in front of him many times...and he softly/gently asked me: are you going to scold me? [laughter] :)-D

Note: A picture to share - The Smoke Puja which seems to turn out like Fire Puja, no smoke, only beautiful fire which was lit up effortlessly (no ignite material used nor human fanning required, narrated by brother Wah) - an auspicious sign of spiritual devotion... - it is still impermanent!